Pump.



J. WILKINSON.

PUMP.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 14, 1914.

1,1 79,592. Y Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

Witnesses Inventor":

. James Wilkinson, y. Wm W %M His a itto r'neg UNTTED STATES PATENT UTTTQE.

JAMES WILKINSON, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PUMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES WILKINSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady, in the county of Schenectady, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pumps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to pumps in which the operating fluid acts directly on water or other liquid, and its object is to enable such pumps to operate in a novel way and to improve them in other respects.

Various advantages that can be secured in connection with my invention will hereinafter become apparent, and its scope will be indicated in my claims.

In the operation of a hydraulic pump in accordance with my invention, I arrange that after the action of the operating fluid on the liquid to expel it from the working space or chamber of the pump, has continued as long during a cycle of operations, as is desirable, such fluid shall be expelled by. condensable vapor, introduced into the working space, and that this vapor .shall subsequently be condensed, so as not to interfere with the introduction or action of the next charge of operating fluid for the next cycle. While various condensable vapors can be employed to thus displace or expel the working fluid,which at this stage, since it is no longer useful, may be termed spent fluid, irrespective of its pressure,and while various means can be used to condense such scavenging vapors (in cluding the direct introduction or injection of any suitable condensing liquid), when the liquid being pumped is water, it will be found most convenient and advantageous to employ steam for this purpose and to condense it by the injection of water; and for convenience, I shall hereinafter refer exclusively to the pumping of water, and to the use of steam and, water, for scavenging purposes.

As my invention is of peculiar advantage in connection with internal combustion hydraulic pumps, in dispensing with a scavenging return stroke, and so allowing the pump to operate on the two cycle principle, with good compression, and with increased working speed, greater duty, and superior efliciency, and also in other ways, I have hereinafter shown and des ribed a pump of this type. This pump is suitable for a wide variety of operating conditions, be ng adapted to use as operating fluid air mixed with producer gas, gasolene, or other gas or vapor; air and finely divided crude oil or other liquid; air and coal dust or other finely divided solid ;or any other substances that can be combined to form a combustible or explosive charge ;and being is not confined thereto, but can be otherwise carried out and embodied.

In the accompanying drawing is shown a sectional view' of a pumping apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention.

In the apparatus shown, there is an up right cylindrical casing 1 that serves as the working chamber. This casing has water inlet port 2 and water discharge port 3, both shown as opening into it at or near its lower end; inlet ports 4 and 5 for the introduction, respectively, of fresh operating fluid comprising air and fuel and of steam to displace and expel the spent operating fluid comprising their products of combustion, both shown as openinginto the chamber at or near its upper end; and injection means 6 for the introduction of water in the form of spray to condense the steam; also shown as opening. into the chamber near its upper end. As shown, the combustion chamber has a valve-controlled auxiliary inlet valve 6 through which a combustible charge or air-under pressure or other fluid may be introduced for starting or other purposes. Although when convenient the combustion of the charge can be brought about as the result of compression thereof, the apparatus shown comprises electric ignition means 7 at the upper end of the working chamber for producing or insuring ignition at the proper'time. No separate means for discharging the spent products of combustion is shown, because in the particular apparatus illustrated it is intended that they water, the chamber shall be allowed to pass into the water discharge 3 along with or after the water pumped. If the water is ultimately discharged into the open, the products of combustion thus entrained with it may be discharged in like manner; if this is impracticable or undesirable, they may be got rid of separately, as through a stand pipe 8 leading off from a receiver chamber 9 at some point on the discharge line 10. The

stand pipe 8 may either be provided with a suitably loaded relief valve 11 Or may be made of a height greater than the hydrostatic head in the line. Besides facilitating the disengagement and discharge of the entrained products of combustion from the 9 may serve to steady the delivery thereof.

, It will be seen that the water inlet 2 and the discharge 3 open into a sort of cylindrical inflow and outflow chamber 12 in a part separate from the main cylindrical portion of the casing 1,the former directly "upward through the bottom of the chamber 12, and the latter sidewise through an annular outlet port 13 that extends completely around said chamber. The chamber 12 contains valve means 14 having a piston form; the rim of this piston valve 14 controls the port 13 and the web has in it inlet ports l5 and servesas a seat for inlet controlling valve means 16 having the form of a washer-like disk. The piston valve 14 is continually urged upward so as to close the outlet port 13 by a helical spring 17 arranged between the chamber 12; and the diskvalve 16 is continually urged downward by a conical spring 18 arranged between it and an adjustable collar 19 on a stem member 20 that is secured to the web of the piston valve 14 and extends upward through the hole in said disk valve 16. The opening and closing movements of the outlet valve 14 and of the inlet valve 16 are controlled by the relative pressure conditions above and below said valve 14, as hereinafter described. It will be observed of the inflow and outflow chamber 12 is shown as of such diameter as to form an enlarged continuation of the main cylindrical portion of the casing 1, and that this feature allows the lower edge of this main portion to serve as a shoulder to limit upward movement of the valve 14 and per- .mits free and effective action of the water its web and the bottom of that the bore,

The inlet 4 for operating fluid opens tangentially through the cylindrical wall of the casing 1 near its upper end, so that the charge of fluid enters the working chamber with a whirl that tends to insure complete filling of the upper part of the chamber thereby and to remedy any lack of uniformity in the its constituents. Backfiring or backflow from the working chamber through the inlet means 4 is prevented by an inwardly opening check valve 21 therein. The introduction of operating fluid is controlled, it will be seen, by the gas'or vapor pressure in said chamber. I

The electric device 7 for igniting the charge comprises a stationary contact or electrode 22 carried by a cylinder 23 mounted in the top of the casing 1; a movable contact or electrode 24 carried by a piston 25 in said cylinder but suitably insulated therefrom; and a helical spring 26 between the top of the cylinder and the piston that tends to force the piston downward and for most of-the time keeps the electrodes in contact. The electrodes 22 and 24 are connected by wiring 27 with a suitable source of current 28, so that when the gas or vapor pressure in the working chamber causes their separation at the proper time an are or spark shall occur between them. Accumulation of gas or vapor above the piston 25 to such an extent as to interfere with this action may be prevented by a vent opening 29 in the upper end of the cylinder 23. s

The inlet means 5 for scavenging steam opens directly downward at 30 through the top of the casing 1 and guides the upper end 31 of the stem 20, interference of the portion 3l'with the downward flow of steam at the proper time being prevented by longitudinal grooves 32 in it. Not only, however, does' this upper end portion'31 of the stem 20 thus serve as a guide to prevent binding or jamming of the outlet controlling the piston valve 14, but it also serves as valve means for. controlling the flow of steam, closing the inlet passage at 30 when ever its ungrooved portion extends thereprevious mingling of v into, shown; and thus the scavenging v steam valve 31 is responsive to the same conditions of pressure as the discharge valve" 14' and the introduction of the steam is controlled by the movement of said latter valve. In addition to the valve means 31, the steam inlet means 5'includes controlling means comprising a partition plate or septum 33 having an orifice 34 that is quite small in comparison with the passage afforded by the grooves 32; this septum valve 31 to form a reservoir and measuring device for admitting the scavenging steam to the Working chamber in a definite, pre- 33 coacts with the steam stem 20, being supplied with water from below the piston valve 14 through the hollow lower portion of the said stem, as hereinafter described. As shown, the injection device 6 comprises an umbrella-like upper part 36 carrying above it the upper portion 31 of the stem 20 and a slightly smaller saucer or funnel-like lower part 37 at the upper end of the hollow lower portion of the stem 20 these parts 36 and 37 being connected and spaced apart in such a way that there is a continuous annular opening between them through which the water is discharged ina conoidal sheet. A ball check valve 38 seated in the part 37 prevents backflow from the working chamber through the injection means 6.

I will now describe the operation of the apparatus as a whole:

The condition shown is that at or about the end of the return or suction stroke, the water being at substantially its highest level in the working chamber and quite or nearly at rest, the respective valves 14;, 16, 21 and 38 in the outlet and the various inlets being closed, a charge of operating fluid comprising air and fuel being compressed in the upper end of the working chamber, and the piston 25 having begun to rise under the pressure of the charge so that the device 7 is in the act! of igniting it or has just done so. Immediately after the explosion, fluid (now consisting of highly heated products of combustion under high pressure) aided by the hydrostatic pressure of the water will force the piston valve 14: down as far as a shoulder in-its chamber 12 will permit and open the discharge port 13, the scavenging steam valve 31 being at the same time opened. The opening of the steam valve 31 will not immediately result in the flow of steam into the working chamber, since the steam pressure is less than that arising from the explosion; butthe opening of the discharge port 13 will immediately result in water being forced out through the outlet 3 into the discharge line 10. After a certain amount of water has been discharged in this manner or drawn out by the momentum of that in the discharge line 10, the pressure of the products of combustion the expansion of the operating will fall below the pressure of the steam accumulated in the reservoir in the scavenging inlet 5, the scavenging check valve 35 will open, and the steam will force out the products of combustion after or with the last of the water, and may even follow them on out into the discharge line to some extent. This will complete the working stroke of the pump.

About as the products of combustion have been completely displaced by the steam, or shortly thereafter, the steam pressure in the working chamber will fall so low, owing to the septum 33 in the steam inlet 5, that the hydrostatic pressure of the water supply aided by the spring 17 will lift the piston. valve 1 1 and the scavenging steam valve 31 so as to close the outlet port 13 and the scavenging steam inlet at 30 When the piston valve 14: reaches the upper limit of its travel, the pressure of the water supply aided by a ram due to the momentum of the water acquired during the movement of said valve 1 1 will lift the ball check valve 38 and spray the water into the working chamber through the injection device 6. The resulting condensation of the steam will quickly lower the pressure in the working chamber, and as the drop in this pressure will act and react cumulatively to increase the amount of water sprayed a partial vacuum may even arise. The effect of the rapid lowering of pressure will be two-fold. In the first place, it will cause the water inlet valve 16 to open and the water to flow in rapidly through it,-or, if this valve 16 has previously been opened about as the piston valve 1 1 rose and the spraying began, it will accelerate the inflow. In the second place, it will sooner or later cause the opening of the check valve 21 in the operating fluid inlet 1, so that fresh operating fluid will enter the working chamber in a: swirl and fill the space above the water, this admission continuing until the inflowing water has compressed the fluid admitted sufficiently to close the check valve 21 again. If the admission of operating fluid is not regulated except in this way, the amount of each charge will depend entirely on the operating conditions during its admission; obviously, however, any suitable means. (such as a septum 33 like that in the steam inlet 5 in conjunction with the check valve 21, for example) may be employed for admitting the fluid in regular definitely measured quantities per stroke. In any case, after the closing of the check valve 21 compression of the charge in the working chamber will continue until the momentum of the water is exhausted and the inflow ceases,-at about which point the water inlet valve 16 will close, the spraying through the device 6 will cease, the suction 'or-return stroke of the pump will be completed, and the ignition device 7 will again act as above described to initiate a new cycle of operation.

When the pump is stopped by the opening of the ignition circuit 27, it will ordinarily stop with a compressed charge of air and fuel in the working chamber ready to be exploded at any time. If it stops in any other condition or if the charge leaks out or deteriorates while it is idle, compressed air may be forced in through the auxiliary inlet means 6 to produce an artificial Working stroke followed by a normal return stroke. "Or, alternatively, a fresh, and if necessary, specially rich charge may be forced in through said auxiliary inlet under suitable pressure.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have describedthe principle of operation of my invention, to gether with the apparatus which I now con sider to represent the best embodiment thereof; but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illu strative, and that the invention can be carried out by other means.

'What I claim as new and desire to .secure by Letters Patent of the United States, 1s:

1. The method of operating a pump which consists in first introducing operating fluid into its Working chamber and causing the expulsion of water therefromdirectly by means of'such fluid, then introducing condensable vapor to expel the spent fluid whereby the Water has been expelled, and finally introducing liquid to condense the vapor.

2. The method of operating an internal combustion hydraulic pump which consists in first introducing the constituents of a combustible charge into its working chamber and permitting the same to be compressed by the incoming water during the suction stroke, then igniting the charge so as to cause the expulsion of water from the Working chamber constituting the Working stroke, then introducing steam to expel the spent products of combustion, and finally injecting water to condense the steam.

8. A pump comprising, in combination with a working chamber having liquid inlet 7 and discharge means for the liquid to be pumped, means for introducing operating fluid into said chamber for causing the expulsion of Water therefrom constituting the working stroke of the pump, means for introducing condensable vapor into said chamber to expel the spent fluid whereby the water has been expelled, and means for in troducing liquid to condense the vapor.

4.An internal combustion hydraulic pump comprising, in combination with a working chamber having inlet means for water and for the constituents of a combustible charge and discharge means for 'water and for spent products of combustion,

means for igniting the charge in said chamber so as to cause the expulsion of water therefrom constituting the working stroke, means for introducing a definite quantity of steam to' displace and expel the spent products of combustion, and means for in jecting water to condense the'steam.

5. An internal combustion hydraulic pump comprising, in combination with a Working chamber having water inlet and discharge means, means responsive to the amount of water and the gas pressure in said chamber for controlling the discharge, means for introducing'the constituents of a combustible charge into said chamber, means for igniting said charge'so astocause the expulsion of water from the working chamber constituting the working stroke,

means controlled'by movement of said discharge controlling means and by the gas or vapor pressure in said chamber for intro ducing steam thereinto to expel the spent products of combustion, and means controlled by the gas or vapor pressure in said chamber for spraying water therein to 0011- dense the steam.

6. An internal combustion hydraulic pump comprising, in combination with a Working chamber having inlet means for water and for the constituents of a combustible charge and dischargemeans for water and for spent products of combustion, means for igniting the charge in said chamber so as to causethe expulsion of water therefrom constituting the working stroke, means for introducing steam to scavenge and expel the spent products of a ference in pressure between the water supply and' the aggregate hydrostatic and gas or vapor pressure in the working chamber.

7. An internal combustion hydraulic pump comprising, in combination with a working chamber having inlet means for water and for the constituents of a combustible charge and discharge means for water and for spent products of combustion, said inlet means for combustible and said discharge means for water being located at opposite" ends of the chamber, means for igniting the charge in said chamber to cause the expulsion of water therefrom constituting the working stroke of the pump, means for introducing steam at the same end of the chamber .as' the inlet for combustible, and means for injecting water to condense the steam, the discharge means for spentproducts of combustion including a valve exposed on opposite sides to the pressure of the water supply and the aggre- In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 12th day of January 191 i.

JAMES WILKINSON.

WVitnesses:

HELEN ORFORD, MARGARET E. WOOLLEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

